Method of synthesizing cellulose nano-crystals from date palm seeds

Abstract

A method of synthesizing cellulose nano-crystals from date palm seeds includes providing washed and dried date palm seeds, milling the date palm seeds to a fine powder, adding a bleaching agent to the fine powder to separate cellulose from the powder, placing the cellulose in a container with an acid solution to form a mixture, heating the mixture, isolating cellulose crystals from the mixture, and reducing the particle size of the cellulose crystals in the solution to provide cellulose nano-crystals. The particle size can be reduced by adding the cellulose crystals to a quantity of water to form a solution, and ultrasonicating the solution at about 90% amplitude for about 45 minutes to form cellulose nano-crystals. The cellulose nano-crystals can have a size ranging from about 5 nm to about 100 nm.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of synthesizing cellulose nano-crystals from date palm seeds, comprising:
 providing date palm seeds; 
 milling the date palm seeds to a fine powder; 
 adding a bleaching agent to the powder to separate cellulose from the powder; 
 combining the cellulose with an acid solution to form a mixture; 
 heating the mixture to form cellulose crystals; 
 isolating cellulose crystals from the mixture, wherein isolating the cellulose crystals from the mixture includes centrifuging the mixture at a speed of about 10,000 rpm and at a temperature of about 10° C.; and 
 reducing the particle size of the cellulose crystals to provide cellulose nano-crystals. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of synthesizing cellulose nano-crystals from date palm seeds according to  claim 1 , further comprising washing the cellulose crystals with distilled water and storing at about 4° C. 
     
     
       3. The method of synthesizing cellulose nano-crystals from date palm seeds according to  claim 1 , wherein the bleaching agent comprises at least one of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
       4. The method of synthesizing cellulose nano-crystals from date palm seeds according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid. 
     
     
       5. The method of synthesizing cellulose crystals from date palm seeds according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle size of the cellulose crystals is reduced by adding the cellulose crystals in a quantity of water to form a solution; and ultrasonicating the solution at about 90% amplitude for about 45 minutes to form the cellulose nano-crystals. 
     
     
       6. The method of synthesizing cellulose crystals from date palm seeds according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of heat pressing the cellulose nano-crystals in a heat press at a temperature of about 105° C. and at an effective amount of applied pressure for about 10 minutes to provide the nano-filter. 
     
     
       7. A method of synthesizing cellulose nano-crystals from date palm seeds, comprising:
 providing date palm seeds; 
 milling the date palm seeds to a fine powder; 
 adding a bleaching agent to the powder to separate cellulose from the powder; 
 combining the cellulose with an acid solution to form a mixture; 
 heating the mixture to form cellulose crystals; 
 isolating cellulose crystals from the mixture; and 
 reducing the particle size of the cellulose crystals to provide cellulose nano-crystals, wherein the particle size of the cellulose crystals is reduced by adding the cellulose crystals in a quantity of water to form a solution and ultrasonicating the solution at about 90% amplitude for about 45 minutes to form the cellulose nano-crystals.